Gas-meter.



0. E. HIBBERD.

GAS METER.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.24, 1913.

1 mg 7 \M/ l k i k 1 m? 5 I h l 12 i gHTNESSES Patented Mar. 31,1914.

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OEAMMQ'QL 174 ATTORNEY C. E. HIBBERD.

GAS METER.

APPLICATION FILED 22x24, 191s.

. 1 92,048. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

s sums-sum z 2% 4 ATTORNEY PH C0.,WASHINGTUN D c C. E. HIBBERD. GASMETER.

ABPLIOATION FILED 1 23.24, 1913.

1,092,048. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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l 1 "m ESSES Q, E .2 \\\s\s M X I w/ 2 6 ATTORNEY \JOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHCD., WASHINGTON, u. (:4

UNTTET) STATES PATENT OFFTfiE.

CHARLES EDWIN I-IIBBERCD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-TENTHSTO FREDERICK LOCKHAR'I. GOAD, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

GASJVIETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,318.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES EDWIN HIE- BERD,a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 79Mantilla road, Tooting Bee, London, S. Vii, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Gasi Ieters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to dry gas meters of the type having a pluralityof measuring chambers each controlled by its own reciprocating valvedriven from a diaphragm.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction ofsuch a meter so that it can be more readily disconnected or assembledfor purposes of repair and so forth.

Another object is to provide an improved gas meter which shall give moreaccurate indications over comparatively large ranges of pressure andconsumption.

lVith one or other of these objects the main features of the presentinvention may be summarized as follows :(a) a gas meter in which theintermediate members between the usual rotating spindle and the valvesare omitted and the valves are reciprocated by cranks, cams or the likeengaging directly with suitable members on the valves themselves, suchcranks, cams or the like being rotatable in a constant direction fromthe diaphragms by way of suitable mechanism; (12) a gas meter having incombination a plurality of measuring chambers, each containing adiaphragm oscillating about its central position of support withinextreme positions defined or approximately defined by the walls of thechambers, and valves controlling flow of gas to and from the measuringchambers, such valves being driven from a crank-shaft or the'likeoperated from the diaphragms, the crank pin or pins being adjusted oradjustable circumferentially so as to cause the valves to close inadvance of the dead points and open immediately on the return motion oftheir respective driving elements; (0) a gas meter with diaphragmchambers, the front members of which have flanged gas ducts integraltherewith and associated with the corresponding flanged parts by readilydetachable fastenings; (a?) a gas meter of the type indicated in whichthe flanges of the measuring chambers or of the diaphragm plates areprovided with co-acting semi-circular or like curved beads or grooveseither similarly or oppositely disposed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows an end view ofthe measuring chambers according to one form of the invention and thevalve-operating mechan sm, Fig. 2 being a corresponding side View, andFig. 3 a plan; Fig. 4 is a section through one of the measuring chambersshowing diaphragm and flag, while finally Fig. 5 is a detail view.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the form shown by wayof example, two measuring chambers, A and B, are arranged as is usual inthis class of meter back to back. The two chambers being similar, onlyone will be described in detail, corresponding parts of the other beingdenoted in general by the same letters accented.

Taking the left hand chamber A, by way of example, it is provided withthe usual diaphragm, 2, flag, 3, (see Fig. 4:), and flag rod, a, thelatter being arranged vertically. The flag rod, a, at its upper end hasrigidly attached to it an arm or lover, a, extending 1n a transversedirection and coupled by a link, 0, to a crank-pin, cl, mounted on theend of a shaft or spindle, 6, arranged across the two measuring chamberson the top thereof. The position of each such crankpin is adjusted oradjustable circumferentially along the groove, 4, in relation to itscorresponding crank so as to cause the valves to close in advance of thedead points, and open immediately on the return motion of theirrespective driving elements, thereby enabling small errors in the rateof registration of the meter to be corrected. The spindle itself isprovided with two cranks, f, f, set preferably at right angles andpassing between horns or projections, Z, Z, on the valves, 2', i,themselves, which are arranged below the spindle and are reciprocatedside by side lengthwise of their respective measuring chambers. Thesevalves may work in conjunction with a valve base, 5, and may beprevented from rising by rods, 70, 70, at each end working through eyes,m, m, or by any other suitable means. The valves themselves arepreferably of the D-type and are provided with a moderate amount of bothoutside and inside lap.

The transverse spindle e carrying the eecentrics is mounted in brackets,n, n, one

at each end. According to one construction, each such bracket has a slotor recess, 2;, at the top, in which the spindle rests, a cap, r, securedby screws, 5, 8, being provided to hold the spindle in place. i

The two back members, 6, 6, of the measuring chambers, A, B, arepermanently united and inseparably connected by suitable ducts, 7, 7, tothe valve base, 5, such parts being preferably riveted or solderedtogether The valve base, 5, is provided with vertical flanges, 8, 8,parallel to the usual flanges, 9, 9, on the backmembers of the measuringchambers. The front members, 10, 10, of these'chambers are speciallyconstructed to correspond to the arrangement of parts described above.Each front member is provided respectively with an upstanding duct, 11,terminating in a vertical flange, 12, parallel to the flange, 13, by.which it is attached to its corresponding back member, the ductflanges, 12, being arranged to correspond with the similar flanges, 8,on the valve base.

In order to secure a gas-tight joint between the front and back membersof the measuring chambers, the flanges, 9 and 18, of these members maybe provided with grooves or bearings, 14, 15, running along the lengthof the flanges and clear of the edges thereof the co-actingsemi-circular or like curved grooves of corresponding flanges eitherbeing similarly arranged so that the convex side of one fits into theconcave side of the other, (see Fig. 4), or as shown in Fig. 5, thegrooves, 16, 17 may be oppositely arranged preferably so that the twoconvex sides are disposed toward one another. This construction not onlyserves to make a gas-tight joint, but also to stiffen the flangesthemselves. A similar construction may be applied to the flanges orperipheral portions of the diaphragm plates or vanes, 2, 2, (see Fig.4), the latter being clamped together one on each side of the diaphragm,18, in any suitable manner.

The construction of parts above described renders it easy to take themeter to pieces for repairs to the diaphragm or associated parts, sincefor each measuring chamber, only what is in effect one joint has to bebroken. It will moreover be seen that none of the valve drivingmechanism has to be removed to obtain access to the diaphragm chambers.The direct operation of the valves from the cranks, f, 7, lessens thenumber of parts while the circumferential adjustment of the crank pinstaken in conjunction with the particular type of diaphragm described,gives a meter which can be made to register correctly under varyingconditions. Any other suitable disposition of the valve and spindle inrelation to the flag rods may likewise be adopted while other forms orshapes of measuring chamber may be used. I wish it to be understood,moreover, that apart fromthe illustrative forms of my inventiondescribed,

many other embodiments can be employed I without departing from theprinciple of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination in a gas meter, aplurality of measuring chambers having movable diaphragms therein; aplurality of reciprocating valves having driving members in rigidrelation thereto, said valves, one to each chamber, controlling flow ofgas to and from said chambers; a rotatable spindle or shaft common tosaid plurality of valves and having different eccentric portionsengaging respectively with the driving members of said valves to actuatethe same, to-

gether with operative interconnections between said diaphragms and saidspindle or shaft.

2. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambershaving movable diaphragms therein; reciprocating valves controlling flowof gas to and from said chambers, said valves being provided withintegral projections; a rotatable spindle or shaft having eccentricportions directly engaging with said valve project-ions, together withoperative interconnections between said diaphragms and said spindle orshaft.

3. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambershaving movable diaphragms therein; valves controlling flow of gas to andfrom said chambers, said valves being reciprocable side by side inparallel lines; a rotatable spindle or shaft disposed transversely tothe line of motion of said valves and directly operating said rotatablecrank-shaft driving said valves; crank pin means on said shaft andoperative interconnections between said crank pin means and diaphragms,said crank pin means being positioned circumferentially in relation tosaid shaft to cause the valves to close in advance of the dead points.

5. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambers; adiaphragm in each of said chambers supported to oscillate about acentral position between extreme positions defined by the walls of thecorresponding chamber; valves controlling flow of gas to and from saidchambers; a rotatable crank-shaft driving said valves; crank pin meanson said shaft; operative interconnections between said crank pin meansand diaphragms together with means for adjusting the position of saidcrank pin means circumferentially in relation to said shaft.

6. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambers eachhaving front and back members connected by flanges situated in certainparallel planes; diaphragms in said chambers; valves controlling flow ofgas to and from said chambers; a valve base having flanges disposedparallel to said certain planes and a gas duct integral with each ofsaid back members and having flanges to co-act with said flanges on saidvalve base.

7. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambers eachhaving front and back members connected by flanges; diaphragms in saidchambers; valves controlling flow of gas to and from said chambers; avalve base having flanges and a gas duct integral with each of said backmembers and having flanges to connect with said valve base flanges.

8. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambers eachhaving front and back members to form co-acting pairs; diaphragmsmovable in said chambers and clamped between co-acting diaphragmmembers; valves controlling flow of gas to and from said chambers;operative interconnections between said diaphragms and valves, togetherwith means for ointing coacting members, said means comprising flangeswith cooperating beadings.

9. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chambers,each having for jointing purposes front and back flanged members withbeadings along the length of said flanges and clear of the edgesthereof; diaphragms movable in said chambers; valves controlling flow ofgas to and from said chambers and operative interconnections betweensaid diaphragms and said valves.

10. In combination in a gas meter, a plurality of measuring chamberseach having for jointing purposes front and back flanged members withheadings along the length of said flanges and clear of the edgesthereof, the concavity of the beading on one flange being disposedwithin the convexity of the beading on the other flange; diaphragmsmovable in said chambers; valves controlling flow of gas to and fromsaid chambers and operative interconnections between said diaphragms andsaid valves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES EDWIN I-IIBBERD.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK PIATT, J AMES WHITELAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

